Latest news with #ScottSorensen
News.com.au
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Blaize Talagi starting to fire ahead of showdown with former side
Blaize Talagi hasn't given his new Penrith teammates any inside information on what to expect from his former side on Sunday afternoon, with the five-eighth hoping to get one over the Eels in a blockbuster battle of the west. Parramatta fans thought Talagi would be their next superstar – especially with whispers Clint Gutherson was on the way out – but they now have to cheer on an Eels side missing their former skipper and one of the hottest young talents in the NRL. Talagi broke their hearts when he told the club he wanted to leave last year, and it only got worse when their noisy neighbours signed him to replace Jarome Luai. He now returns to CommBank Stadium to take on his old club, with Penrith needing a win to get off the foot of the table, with the Eels hoping to heap more pain on the champions. Off-season shoulder surgery slowed down his partnership with Nathan Cleary, with Talagi forced to start the year in reserve grade before he finally earnt a start in round 6. It was a clunky start but the young gun has quickly found his feet, headlined by four try assists against the Cowboys a few weeks ago when he only had eight in 19 games last year. 'He's really starting to grow in belief,' veteran back-rower Scott Sorensen said ahead of his return from suspension. 'Everyone is working hard, and he's right up there in working really hard on his game and understanding our system and his role in defence and attack. 'I think his confidence is starting to build, which is really exciting. 'Being out, you get to have a bit of a bird's-eye view on it. It's awesome to see his game grow, and his voice has grown as well. 'That comes with confidence and working on his combination with Nathan.' Questions were being asked in the early rounds when Talagi wasn't getting picked, while plenty of tough judges were quick to sink the boot in when Penrith were losing with him in the team. But he's starting to look more comfortable every week and hasn't been afraid to over call his famous halves partner if he sees something brewing on the left. 'He hasn't really missed a beat,' Sorensen said. 'He obviously had his shoulder surgery (in the pre-season) and I'm sure that would have played a part in building confidence and getting back into it. 'He just hasn't looked backwards. He's tried to grow and accept that this is his position now. He's been patient. There's a lot of outside noise, but he's believed in what's happening in the four walls here. 'I'm sure he's had conversations with Ivan, and you can see that he's taken his time to grow and learn our system. He's starting to blossom which is nice to see.' Outside back Tom Jenkins played against his former side the Knights last week but said Talagi hadn't even brought up Parramatta ahead of this weekend's grudge match. Jenkins was on the end of a stunning chip kick from Talagi to score against the Cowboys and said the young half's enthusiasm had been crucial for the four-time defending premiers who aren't stressing about being last on the ladder. 'I love playing with Blaize. He always brings the energy and he's one of those X-factor players that we look for,' he said. 'You never know what's going to happen around him, but it's usually pretty good. 'I didn't get to see him in pre-season, but from round 1 to now, it's clear to everyone that he's found his feet and he's developed.'
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NRL boss flags major bunker change amid backlash over 'embarrassing' scenes
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo insists there will be "less intervention" from the bunker moving forward after addressing the widespread backlash from a controversial weekend of footy. Round eight saw a staggering 18 players sent to the sin bin, with some of those incidents not even worthy of a binning, while other more serious offences weren't similarly punished. The NRL chief executive admitted mistakes were made by officials across the round and accepted the 'frustrations' of fans after the bunker interjected numerous times to initiate sin-bin calls several plays after the initial offence. Wests Tigers prop Fonua Pole was binned in one such incident against Cronulla on Sunday that left league legend Andrew Johns so incensed he refused to speak on Nine's broadcast for 23 minutes. Johns also fumed over Scott Sorensen's sin-binning for a high shot on Manly's Nathan Brown, after questioning how else the Panthers forward was supposed to tackle the rampaging Sea Eagles forward. Brown was charging at full-speed off a kick-off and Sorensen's shoulder accidentally caught the Manly prop in the head as he braced for contact, but many argued that it was simply an accident that is part of the game. Sorensen faces a two-game ban after being hit with a grade-two dangerous contact charge that Penrith are hoping to get downgraded at the judiciary. If the Panthers are successful, Sorensen faces a $1500 fine but will be free to take on the Broncos in Magic Round. However, the Penrith forward faces a three-game ban if he's unsuccessful. It's the first major test for the judiciary this season, amid concerns there is a disconnect between on-field decisions by officials and the gradings from the match review committee. There have already been 31 players sin-binned for dangerous acts this season, with 17 resulting in suspensions, 12 in fines and two resulting in no punishment at all. Scott Sorensen was sent to the sin bin for this shoulder charge. 📺 Watch #NRLPanthersManly on ch.502 or stream on Kayo: BLOG MATCH CENTRE — Fox League (@FOXNRL) April 26, 2025 The latest controversies have left fans' confidence in the state of NRL officiating at an all-time low and the NRL CEO appeared on multiple programs on TV and radio on Monday night to address the backlash. He accepted that mistakes had been made by officials but insisted there had not been a directive to crack down on high contact after making no apologies for referees trying to protect the players. RELATED: Why Terrell May is a 'must-pick' for Origin as Blues coach drops hint Luai rejects ugly claim about Galvin as Tigers young gun breaks silence Papenhuyzen 'prime target' for newest team amid potential $2m first But Abdo accepted the bunker was playing too big a role in games and said the video officials had been instructed to only get involved for the most serious acts of foul play that warranted sin bins. 'I think there were some calls that were wrong and look and we understand some of the frustration, particularly when the bunker intervenes in play a number of plays down the track,' Abdo said. 'We can understand why there's frustration with that. The bar for that was always intended to be quite high. It needs to be serious or significant foul play for the bunker to intervene and to bin someone once the play is moved on. That's something that we want to work on with the referees.' The NRL boss also warned players against trying to milk penalties by staying down or exaggerating contact from opposition players. He was speaking in reference to an incident with Cronulla's Ronaldo Mulitalo against the Tigers on Sunday that Johns and fellow league great Paul Gallen both detested and fans labelled 'embarrassing' after the Sharks appealed for a penalty due when Jack Bird's fingers brushed Mulitalo's face. Players like Mulitalo carrying on holding their face trying to milk penalities and sin bins are the actual WORST I'm glad the ref called it incidental #NRLTigersSharks — Nikki (@Easts4Life) April 27, 2025 Does it all the — Duke25 (@Duke2517) April 27, 2025 Mulitalo is the biggest milker holy shit 🤢 — Picasstonian (@hf2_0_2_) April 27, 2025 "We don't want to see that. We don't want to see a situation where we're set up to fail and encouraging players to milk penalties, that's the last thing we want," Abdo said on Nine's 100% Footy. "I think some of the decisions the referees have made despite that are phenomenal and they deserve credit for that because it is difficult in those situations." Abdo was adamant that officiating decisions would not ruin Magic Round in Brisbane this weekend, amid growing concerns. He said: "I can say that we review each and every match each and every round and we've looked at some of the errors that occurred this weekend and we want to make sure that they don't get repeated. So I think that what you're going to see is definitely less intervention from the Bunker when play has moved on."
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Panthers take action against NRL as Andrew Johns erupts over 'embarrassing' farce
The Penrith Panthers will challenge Scott Sorensen's two-match ban at the NRL judiciary in a major examination of the league's crackdown on high contact. The Panthers back-rower was sin-binned on Saturday night for a shoulder charge that collected Manly prop Nathan Brown in the head. Brown wasn't even required to leave the field for a head injury assessment (HIA), but Sorensen was given his marching orders for 10 minutes. On Sunday morning, the match review committee hit Sorensen with a grade-two charge, which carries a two-game suspension with an early guilty plea. But the Panthers will challenge the ruling at the NRL judiciary and are seeing a downgrade to a grade-one charge. That would result in just a $1500 fine and leave Soresen free to take on the Broncos in Brisbane in Magic Round. If the Panthers are unsuccessful at the judiciary, Sorensen will be wiped out for three games and miss matches against the Cowboys and Knights as well. The hearing will be a true test of how on-board the judiciary is with the NRL's crackdown on high contact. Scott Sorensen was sent to the sin bin for this shoulder charge. 📺 Watch #NRLPanthersManly on ch.502 or stream on Kayo: BLOG MATCH CENTRE — Fox League (@FOXNRL) April 26, 2025 A whopping 18 players were sin-binned in Round 8 - the majority for high tackles - after the NRL started clamping down on contact to the head about a month ago. The situation seemed to ramp up last weekend as multiple players were sin-binned in the next set of six following innocuous incidents. Speaking on Channel 9 on Sunday, Andrew Johns urged NRL officials to make a public statement about what a player is supposed to do in Sorensen's situation. Johns pointed out that Sorensen risked injury to himself if he didn't brace for the contact or tried to tackle low, and would like dislocate a shoulder or elbow by wrapping his arms in such close proximity to teammates. 'They want players to defend low, but if Scott Sorensen goes low on Nathan Brown he's gonna knock himself out as cold as a spud,' Johns said on the Footy Show. 'If he wraps his arms, he will dislocate his shoulder – he has to brace and get himself into space. I have no idea what the NRL want this tackle to be and they have to come out tomorrow and explain what tackle they want in this situation. "The breakdown of this sending players to the bin is absolutely farcical. It's gone beyond a joke. It is embarrassing. The over-analysis and the overreach of the bunker in play ... the bunker should be used only for try-scoring opportunities unless it's a send-off. If it's an out-and-out send-off and they miss it, then fair enough, come in and send the player off. "Going back eight plays in a set of six where the referee doesn't see it, the touch judges don't see it, the players don't see it ... to send someone to the bin is absolutely farcical." Tellingly, there's already seems to be a disconnect between the on-field calls being made and the match review committee. In recent years, a sin-bin has traditionally equated to a grade-two charge from the match review committee and at least a one-game ban. But the NRL has lowered the marker for a sin-bin in recent weeks, with officials believed to be happy with fines in some instances. RELATED: Selwyn Cobbo delivers dagger to Broncos in huge call on NRL future Kalyn Ponga's switch to rival team gathers steam amid glaring move Across the opening eight rounds, there have been 31 players sin-binned for dangerous acts. Of those, 17 have received suspensions and 12 have been fined. On two occasions, the match review committee cleared them altogether. In contrast, the match review committee has handed out 13 suspensions to players who were not sin-binned on field. It means that of the 44 players sin-binned or suspended this season, the bunker and match review committee's stances have been different on 15 of them. with AAP
Perth Now
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Panthers to fight the NRL judiciary amid crackdown
Penrith will fight the NRL's crackdown on illegal shots at the judiciary, hoping to help save their ailing season by wiping Scott Sorensen's two-game suspension. Sorensen went to the sin bin for his shoulder charge on rampaging Manly forward Nathan Brown late in the first half of the round-eight loss that sent Penrith to the bottom of the ladder. The second-rower was one of 18 players sin-binned on the weekend as the NRL took its tough stance on illegal contact to unprecedented heights. On Sunday morning, the match review committee cited Sorensen for a grade-two shoulder charge, which carries a two-game ban with an early guilty plea. But the New Zealand international is seeking a downgrade to a grade-one shoulder charge, for which he would only receive a $1500 fine. If unsuccessful at his hearing on Tuesday night, Sorensen would miss games against Brisbane at Magic Round, North Queensland and Newcastle. The four-time reigning premiers' season could be beyond salvaging by the time he returns. If they lose their next three games, the Panthers would have a 2-9 record. If Sorensen is unavailable, Luke Garner appears the leading candidate to start on the left edge, provided he recovers from the concussion that sidelined him from the loss to Manly. Elsewhere, none of the three players sin-binned for dangerous tackles in Sunday's games received suspensions from the match review committee on Monday morning. Wests Tigers prop Fonua Pole, Cronulla second-rower Briton Nikora and Dolphins playmaker Kodi Nikorima can all accept fines for their grade-one offences.
News.com.au
27-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Andrew Johns takes aim at NRL ‘farce' as coaches say same thing about rule ‘ruining' rugby league
Andrew Johns has laid into the NRL amid a string of 'farcical' sin bins in round eight. The NRL stated last month that it was cracking down on high contact after several incidents in the opening two weeks went relatively unpunished. Announcing the crackdown, CEO Andrew Abdo said players would be binned for any direct and forceful contact with the head that didn't have any mitigating factors. Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. However, after weeks of fan outrage due to the crackdown, the consensus is the NRL has gone too far, with several players given 10 in the bin for relatively minor offences. Across the first six games of footy this week, there have been an incredible 12 sin bins. This week it started on Thursday night as the Bulldogs had several players given their marching orders before things reached boiling point on Saturday. In the first game of the weekend, the Titans had Jaimin Joliffe and Brock Gray put in the bin for minor head contact in their loss to the Cowboys. In Saturday night's clash between Manly and Penrith, Scott Sorensen and Siosiua Taukeiaho were both given 10 for minor indiscretions. Sorenson's shot on Nathan Brown didn't even require the Manly forward to go off for a head injury assessment, while Taukieaho was sanctioned for an offence completely missed before Belinda Sharpe stopped play almost a minute later to put him in the bin for what was an innocuous incident. And with fans starting to turn their back on the sport feeling the latest crackdown has sucked the enjoyment out of the game, Johns unleashed on the NRL. The Immortal called this weekend's officiating 'farcical', 'embarrassing' and 'beyond a joke'. 'They want players to defend low, but if Scott Sorensen goes low on Nathan Brown he's gonna knock himself out as cold as a spud,' Johns said on Nine's Sunday Footy Show. 'If he wraps his arms, he will dislocate his shoulder – he has to brace and get himself into space. I have no idea what the NRL want this tackle to be and they have to come out tomorrow and explain what tackle they want in this situation. ' … Next week, we are going to Magic Round. We are a working-class game, our fans are working-class people, they save up all year to go to Magic Round and for them to go out there and make a farce of this game, will be disgraceful if it happens this week. 'I am so frustrated by it and I reckon the players would be frustrated by it. 'Who owns the game? The fans and without the fans watching on TV, there are no broadcast rights and without fans going to the game, there is no money. I'd imagine they are more frustrated than I am.' And if X is anything to go by fans have well and truly had enough, with many stating they have fallen out of love with the sport due to sin bins 'ruining the NRL'. 'Is anyone else falling out of love with rugby league? Such a different sport to when I started watching it in the 1970s and the laws/refereeing now is far too overcautious,' one fan wrote on X. 'NRL is in a great period, rugby league is flying. The one thing that's holding it back. The officials. Hate to have a go at them but it's just not good enough at the moment,' another added. While a third said: 'I honestly don't think I've seen a softer sin bin in the history of rugby league. How on God's green earth is that not play on? A sin bin? It's becoming an absolute farce and ruining our game.' And even the coaches are at a loss for words. Both Ivan Cleary and Anthony Seibold said Saturday's match was over-refereed. When Cleary was asked whether the league had overcorrected since the crackdown, he said: 'I think that's probably a fair comment.' While Seibold said it has been a problem for several weeks and changes need to be made. 'I feel like it potentially just needs to be looked at because there are some tackles that look very similar and some are getting sin-binned, and some aren't getting sin-binned,' Seibold said.
